A seniors advocate, Sue Shearer, has called for an end to the political “blame game” surrounding voluntary assisted dying (VAD) laws in the Northern Territory (NT), the only Australian jurisdiction yet to pass such legislation. Shearer urges bipartisan cooperation to finalize the laws, emphasizing that the delay has been detrimental to terminally ill individuals seeking choice and that the issue is fundamentally about human rights and democracy. The NT government, led by Attorney-General Marie-Clare Boothby, is currently drafting VAD legislation following a parliamentary committee’s recommendation, while Labor Opposition Leader Selena Uibo has introduced a ready-to-go private member’s bill, which the government has rejected.
The NT was the first Australian jurisdiction to legalize voluntary euthanasia in 1995, but those laws were later overturned federally. Since then, all other states and the ACT have passed their own VAD laws. The current debate centers on whether the government should adopt Uibo’s bill to expedite access or continue with its own drafting process. Boothby insists the government will not be rushed, accusing the opposition of trying to force legislation. Meanwhile, some groups like the Australian Christian Lobby advocate for focusing on palliative care rather than legalizing VAD.
